12 Wing Shearwater (CYAW)

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I became very interested in plane spotting at a very early age watching military aviation at CFB Shearwater. 

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In the 1970s and 1980s, Shearwater was a very active fixed-wing airbase.  From my parents' house or the parking lot of the former Penhorn Mall, I spotted military aircraft from all over NATO, and learned how to spot military aviation.  Back then, Trackers, the T-33 and the Sea Kings called Shearwater home.  But I saw my share of Voodoos, CF-18s, CF-5s, the 707 and even a CF-100.  Some of my favourite spots were the C-5 Galaxy and Air Force One.

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While Shearwater is not near as active as it once was, the heliport is still home to CH-148 Cyclones, as well as Canadian Coast Guard helicopters.  Shearwater controls the airspace over Halifax and Dartmouth, and civilian aircraft will check into Shearwater while over the city.  This includes the LifeFlight EHS helicopter, C-GIMN, landing at the QEII and IWK/Grace Hospitals.  There is also a helipad near Point Pleasant Park, occasionally used by LifeFlight and Department of Natural Resources (Patrol XX) helicopters.

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Rumors continue to surface that the long runway will be rebuilt and fixed-wing aircraft will once again use the base.  I'm not hopeful.  The city has long grown up around the base.

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Shearwater is home to the following:

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• 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron

• 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron

• 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron (at Patricia Bay)

• 12 Air Maintenance Squadron

• 12 Wing Air Reserve Flight

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Frequencies

         

          126.200   Advisory/Tower                                               

          119.000   Tower (rarely used)                                           

          121.700   Ground 

          149.350   Ground vehicles (FM)                                 

          129.175   ATIS (when the tower is open)                                               

          134.100   Precision Approach Radar                            

          340.200   Tower                                               

          360.200   Tower

          250.100   Ground                                              

          289.400   Precision Approach Radar

          346.600   Precision Approach Radar                             

          239.300   Shearwater Military                                 

          231.950   Flight Following

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One thing you'll hear often is Cyclone pilots talk about "Dip Sectors".  These are training areas south of Halifax for practicing Anti-Submarine Warfare, so dropping sonobuoys and using other equipment.

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14th Wing Greenwood (CYZX)

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CFB Greenwood is located in the Annapolis Valley, about 110 Km (70 Mi) from Halifax.  It is home to the following:

 

• 404 Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron

• 405 Long Range Patrol Squadron

• 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron

• 415 Long Range Patrol Force Development Squadron

• 14 Air Maintenance Squadron

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From a monitoring standpoint, CFB Greenwood is very hard to monitor from urban Halifax/Dartmouth.  However, the "airside" of 120.6 (Greenwood Terminal and 308.6 (Wing Ops)  are  regularly heard.

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Frequencies

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          119.500   Tower          

          126.200   Tower           

          120.600   Greenwood Terminal

          133.750   Ground  

          128.025   Clearance Delivery   

          128.850   ATIS  

          118.100   Precision Approach Radar      

          129.775   Tusker Ops     

          236.600   Tower                                                

          324.200   Tower                      

          289.400   Ground  

          283.900    Clearance Delivery

          244.300    ATIS                          

          258.600    Precision Approach Radar                            

          283.900    Precision Approach Radar                            

          378.500    Precision Approach Radar                         

          308.600    Greenwood Wing Ops